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According to Las Vegas economists, 2012 was a big year for the valley with 800,000 more visitors coming to the Las Vegas Strip.

Economists say convention traffic played a big role in those increasing numbers.

An estimated $4.1 billion was generated by the convention industry last year as the city played host to 10 major shows. The Las Vegas Convention Center alone accounted for about one in four convention visits.

However, it is not just spending at the actual convention. It is also the spending convention-goers do outside the convention hall.

"I did some gambling at the slot machines, and went to the buffet there," vendor Steve Lee said.

That is the type of spending that helps boost the Strip's bottom line and supports nearly half of the valley's workforce, Jeremy Aguero with Applied Analysis said, during a presentation to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Tuesday.